Canucks introduce Jim Benning as new GM

Jim Benning was officially introduced as the new Vancouver Canucks general manager Friday.

“I wanted a builder with similar views that could help us set up the Vancouver Canucks for the next decade and beyond,” Linden said.

Benning, 51, becomes the 11th GM in franchise history after serving as an assistant GM for the Boston Bruins since 2006.

“This organization needs to play an up-tempo, fast skating, skilled game,” he said. “Before last season, this team has an attitude about them that they were going to skate and to wear teams down and to score, and for whatever reason that didn’t happen last year.”

Benning took the job after Linden fired GM Mike Gillis last month and head coach John Tortorella in early May after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Filling the void behind the bench will be Benning’s first order of business.